HOA dues used for board members pet club (Tampa: HOA fees, houses)

[Buschg]

Hello all, we are new to HOA living. A few questions to those of you with experience and knowledge in this area.



A board member of our HOA advertises in our newsletter for HOA members as well as any member of the general public to come into the HOA for this board members pet club meeting. It is now advertised as free soda and snacks for this club to be provided by our HOA. This will come from “community relations” fund as acknowledged by this board member. Snacks and soda for his pet club will now cost the HOA members yearly dues for about three homes.


Does this seem ethical or fair?


What if others want to provide soda and snacks to their pet group meetings? Where does it end?






Also, this same board member enforces HOA violations. This person will not accept anonymous calls or emails to report any such violations. Why not as law enforcement does?


I believe I know why now as this board member voluntarily elected to uphold the codes appeared one day and asked a group of us if we saw violation X occurring at the house next door? We all said yes. This board member then explained that Mrs. Jones across the street called and complained. Now poor Mrs. Jones who did nothing wrong is at odds with the home violating the rules. The board member who talks tough in our newsletter simply wants to blame someone else rather than enforcing the rules he volunteered to enforce.


Shouldn’t anonymous complaints be accepted and acted upon?


Shouldn’t those houses with street name and number found with a valid violation be a public record?


It just seems like a secret cabal here and not to the entire memberships benefit.

[BucFan]

Speak up at the next meeting about frivolous expenses not being in accordance with the bylaws. Run for the board next election.

[Irishiis49]

Originally Posted by BucFan

Speak up at the next meeting about frivolous expenses not being in accordance with the bylaws. Run for the board next election.

This advice is the best! We actually moved from a home because our HOA was so un-child friendly...somewhere between living next to a guy who parks his car on the front lawn to a Nazi-state ...a happy compromise has to exist...

[kmarc]

HOAs are just another layer of government. Think of them as governments in microcosm. The HOA fees can be mis-used in the same way taxes are misused. The board members can play favorites or make residents' lives miserable, just as state, local and Federal government picks winners and losers.

[BucFan]

I would find a way to make them reimburse funds for their little party. Got any friends with a law degree that you can call to put pressure on the board about this.

[bobandsherry]

I've read your post several times. Still not clear as to why you posted here (Tampa Bay forum) or what the real issue is.

Bucfan said it best, you don't like how HOA runs, run for election next time. I did that with my previous HOA. I and small group replaced entire board and also the property management company in 2 years.

[MortonR]

What others said. Participate on the Board and get involved. It's the best way to handle things like this.

Violations cannot be reported anonymously. There has to be someone who reports the violation, although the management company or Board is not obligated to reveal the individual who reports the violation.

If the Board or one of its members appears to be spending money they shouldn't or doing inappropriate things, you need to challenge them. Bylaws are king when it comes to defining the functions of the HOA and its Board. Go through them and know them well. That's your best defense against abuse.

RM

[Reynex]

Originally Posted by kmarc

HOAs are just another layer of government. Think of them as governments in microcosm. The HOA fees can be mis-used in the same way taxes are misused. The board members can play favorites or make residents' lives miserable, just as state, local and Federal government picks winners and losers.

It's not a microcosm - in many respects, HOAs have more power than the state or federal government

Also, HOAs don't afford due process to the governed.

[IC_deLight]

Originally Posted by Buschg

Hello all, we are new to HOA living. A few questions to those of you with experience and knowledge in this area.
...
Also, this same board member enforces HOA violations. This person will not accept anonymous calls or emails to report any such violations. Why not as law enforcement does?


I believe I know why now as this board member voluntarily elected to uphold the codes appeared one day and asked a group of us if we saw violation X occurring at the house next door? We all said yes. This board member then explained that Mrs. Jones across the street called and complained. Now poor Mrs. Jones who did nothing wrong is at odds with the home violating the rules. The board member who talks tough in our newsletter simply wants to blame someone else rather than enforcing the rules he volunteered to enforce.

Shouldn’t anonymous complaints be accepted and acted upon?
...

It just seems like a secret cabal here and not to the entire memberships benefit.

Why wouldn't threats from the HOA corporation - based on anonymous complaints - be considered the secret cabal? Seems you are trying to promote what you are complaining about - a secret cabal. Also threats by the HOA against any member is hardly to that member's benefit and therefore never benefits the "entire membership".